Legal Sports Bets in Indiana
When it comes to the list of sports you can bet on in Indiana, Hoosiers have endless options. We’ve got the breakdown of all of the betting options. Indiana online sportsbooks offer odds on any of these events.
Bet on College Sports in Indiana
Indiana has been pretty forward-thinking as a sports betting market. Other states have been plagued by laws that don’t allow gamblers to bet on in-state college sports teams. Indiana, thankfully, has no such law.
That makes it possible to bet on Notre Dame and other Indiana teams.
NCAA Division I football, basketball, baseball and hockey are all available.
College basketball betting is particularly important for fueling Indiana’s hoop hysteria. Are you an IU fan? Then you can bet on Hoosiers basketball. Swing more toward the black and gold? Then you can bet on Purdue hoops instead.
Of course, out-of-state teams are also an option.
Indiana also lets gamblers place bets on March Madness, one of the biggest sports betting events of the year.
Other options like NCAA softball, tennis and track and field are also available.
Bet on Football in Indiana
Football is the most popular sport for betting in the US. Thankfully, gamblers in Indiana have all of the notable options at their fingertips.
NFL betting in Indiana is the most popular option. Lots of Hoosiers prefer to bet on the Colts, but plenty still bet on the Chicago Bears. NFL Draft betting is legal in the state as well. That gives football diehards something to look forward to even in the offseason.
If you’re looking for something different, you can try Canadian Football League betting. Outside of that, the other football option is to bet on the XFL.
Bet on Basketball in Indiana
It’s no secret that Hoosiers love basketball, and the Indiana Gaming Commission is feeding that love.
The NBA is the most popular professional league. Indiana Pacers betting is a popular choice since the team is in Indianapolis.
However, Chicago sports still have their hold on the northern part of the state. That makes Chicago Bulls betting another popular option. The NBA Draft and NBA Draft Lottery are also approved events.
Betting on NBA games is the big hitter, but these other basketball options are out there as well:
- The Basketball Tournament
- Big3 League
- Euro League and Euro Cup
- WNBA
- WNBA Draft
- FIBA Champions League and Qualifiers
- International Basketball Federation
- First Tier FIBA leagues
Betting on international basketball
FIBA is the dominant basketball force outside of the NBA. The rest of the world uses FIBA’s rules, ball, and court measurements. Right now, you can bet on FIBA leagues from any of the following countries:
- Australia
- Brazil
- China
- France
- Germany (including cups)
- Israel
- Italy
- Japan
- New Zealand
- Spain (including cups)
- Turkey
The Spanish Liga ACB, Chinese Basketball Association and Turkish Basketball Federation are the most popular leagues overseas. They all routinely feature former NBA players looking to extend their careers.
Those FIBA standards are also used for Olympic play and qualifiers. Other international tournaments like the FIBA World Cup will likely be available for betting down the road. The next World Cup isn’t until 2023, so there isn’t any rush to add it to the approved events list.
Bet on Baseball in Indiana
Indiana doesn’t have a team of its own, but that doesn’t mean Hoosiers don’t love betting on MLB.
The closest teams to Indiana are some of the more popular options for MLB betting. That includes franchises like the Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Cincinnati Reds and St. Louis Cardinals.
Indiana also gave the green light to MLB Draft and Draft Lottery bets, so all aspects of the league are on the table for gambling.
Minor league betting is also available for Triple-A teams, including the Indianapolis Indians.
If you’re looking for something a little different, betting on baseball over in Asia is also an option. The Korean KBO League and the Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball league are the other two pro leagues you can bet on in Indiana.
Both leagues are particularly accessible for betting. Since the games take place in Indiana’s middle of the day, sportsbooks consistently offer easy-to-find odds on both leagues.
Bet on Soccer in Indiana
Soccer is the only sport with more betting options than basketball in Indiana.
With so many different leagues in many other countries, fans can bet on soccer. There are far too many soccer options to list them all here, but know that you can bet on every major league and tournament.
FIFA regulated events and everything under the umbrellas of UEFA, AFC, CONMEBOL and CONCACAF are on the table for betting. MLS betting is also an option if you’re looking for something homegrown. That includes minor leagues like the USL Champions Division, so sportsbooks can even offer odds on Indy Eleven games.
Bet on Hockey in Indiana
Hockey fans, rejoice! All of your favorite leagues are available for betting in Indiana. NHL betting is the biggest and most popular option in the US for gambling. You can bet on every NHL game throughout the year, plus the league’s draft and draft lottery.
If you’re looking for something different, betting on overseas hockey could be a fun way to spice up the typical experience. Indiana’s online sportsbooks can offer odds on all of these leagues:
- Belarus Extraleague
- International Ice Hockey Federation
- Kontinental Hockey League
- SM-liiga Finland
- Swedish Hockey League
- Switzerland National League
- World Championships
Bet on Races in Indiana
Auto racing holds a special place in the heart of Hoosier sports fans. Thanks to Indianapolis 500, which takes place every May in the state.
The Motor Speedway is the largest sports venue in the world, and the 500 attracts fans from around the globe every year. Thankfully, IndyCar betting is an option for race fans in Indiana. That includes the general series and the big race itself.
If you lean more toward NASCAR, then don’t worry. Indiana isn’t hanging you out to dry either. All Monster Energy Series, Xfinity Series, and Truck Series races are on the table for wagering. That’s in addition to all bigger races like the Daytona 500.
Formula 1 racing has been picking up steam in the US. With lots of new fans tuning in to the races, some will be looking to bet on the action. Luckily, sportsbooks can offer odds on all Formula One events in Indiana.
If you’re still looking for a different type of race betting, you can also wager on MOTO GP events and the Constructors’ Championships.
Bet on Fights in Indiana
MMA and boxing are wildly popular throughout the US. Sportsbooks can take wagers on both in Indiana. When it comes to boxing, sportsbooks can offer odds on events ran by the following entities:
- Association of Boxing Commissions and Combative Sports
- British Boxing Board of Control
- International Boxing Federation
- World Boxing Association
- World Boxing Council
- World Boxing Organization
In other words, you can bet on pretty much every major boxing event that exists. The only exception is celebrity matches like Logan Paul vs. Floyd Mayweather. Those bouts are technically just exhibition matches, so you can’t bet on them in Indiana.
Mixed martial arts has pushed itself to the foreground of popularity over the past decade. The Ultimate Fighting Championship has particularly captured the interests of American sports fans and gamblers. In addition to the UFC, you can also bet on these other MMA events in Indiana:
- Association of Boxing Commissions and Combative Sports
- Bellator MMA
- Legacy Fighting Alliance
- One Championship
- Professional Fighters League
Bet on Golf in Indiana
Golf bettors never have to miss the action in Indiana. It might not command gambling attention as football, but betting on golf in Indiana is still a popular option. Thanks to the golf-specific options that sportsbooks offer, the sport works particularly well for betting.
For example, betting on head-to-head matchups between two golfers is a popular option.
Live betting is another route that works particularly well for golf. The live betting product isn’t perfect, but since the sport is slower, it gives gamblers a broader window to book bets in real-time.
All four golf majors are available for betting in Indiana. Toss in all of these other options, and golf gamblers have plenty to look forward to all year:
- Champion’s Tour
- European Tour
- International Events (Ryders Cup, President’s Cup, etc.)
- Korn Ferry Tour
- LPGA events
- PGA events
- PGA Tour Champions
- Senior European Tour
- World Golf Championships
Sportsbooks can also offer odds on more obscure celebrity golf events such as “The Match.”
Bet on Tennis in Indiana
Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal. Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka. Regardless of who your favorite tennis player is, you can bet on them in Indiana.
Tennis betting is an excellent option for gamblers looking to branch out. The sport is fast-paced and entertaining, making it a fun opportunity for sports betting.
Indiana’s sportsbooks can offer odds on different tennis events from around the world, including:
- Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP Tour and Challenger Tour)
- Austrian National Tennis Series
- German National Tennis Series
- International Tennis Federation
- Spanish Liga MAPFRE
- United States Tennis Association
- Women’s Tennis Association Tour and WTA 125k Series
- World Team Tennis
Bet On the Olympics in Indiana
The Olympics present a special gambling opportunity for Hoosiers.
Since the games are only around every few years, the various events offer something unique for sports bettors.
Tons of Summer Olympic events are on the table for betting, but there’s a catch. You can’t bet on some of the more popular events like gymnastics since judges determine the winners.
Since judging is subjective, those events are off-limits for legal sportsbooks in Indiana. Regardless, all of the following options are available for the Summer Olympics:
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Basketball 3v3
- Golf
- Handball
- Rugby
- Soccer
- Softball
- Table Tennis
- Swimming
- Track and field
- Volleyball (includes beach volleyball)
- Water polo
- Field hockey
- BMX racing
- Fencing
- Rowing
- Badminton
- Boxing
- Diving
- Modern pentathlon
- Triathlon
- Weightlifting
The gaming commission has also given the Winter Olympics the green light for wagering. However, the field of options is much smaller compared to the summer games. Hoosiers can bet on all of the following winter events:
- Alpine skiing
- Bobsled
- Cross-country skiing
- Curling
- Ice hockey
- Short track speed skating
- Speed skating
Obscure Sports Betting Options in Indiana
Indiana has one of the largest selections of sports betting options available in the entire country. If you’re looking for something completely different from the usual major sports, this is your section. Hoosiers can bet on all of the following obscure sports:
- Table tennis
- Track and field
- Skiing
- Snowboarding
- Sailing
- Rugby
- Rowing
- Lacrosse
- Handball
- Darts
- Cycling
- Cricket
- Bowling
- Bull riding
- Aussie rules football
All of those sports have many different leagues and events with odds. There are way too many options to list here, so check out the gaming commission’s complete list if you feel like betting on any of the above sports.
Indiana also has wagering available for special events, including betting on the Academy Awards and Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest.